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This is the third instalment in our four-part series covering the latest news and updates from The Traveller Movement in May 2026. Catch up on Part 1 , Part 2, or Part 4 if you missed it, or sign up to our newsletter to get the full story straight to your inbox each month.

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Education Policy Team Update

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This month, the SEND Reform Consultation closed. The Traveller Movement submitted a detailed co-produced  response outlining the unique and intersecting barriers faced by Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children and young people within the education system.

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Our submission highlighted concerns including: 

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  • Persistent school exclusions and off rolling 
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  • Bullying, racism and discrimination within educational settings 
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  • Inconsistent identification of SEND needs 
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  • Poor engagement between schools and families 
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  • Digital exclusion 
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  • The lack of culturally competent support services 
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Criminal Justice Policy Team Update

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The Traveller Movement’s criminal justice policy work continues to expand this month, with a major research project now underway examining sentencing disparities affecting Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller people.

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The research will explore how systemic inequality, discrimination and institutional bias may shape experiences within the criminal justice system, particularly at sentencing stage.

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As part of the project, we are currently engaging with a broad range of stakeholders including: 

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  • Practitioners within HMPPS 
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  • Academics and researchers 
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  • Legal professionals 
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  • Community organisations 
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  • Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller people with lived experience of the criminal justice system 
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This research will inform future policy recommendations and contribute to improving fairness, accountability and outcomes within the criminal justice system.

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Parliamentary Updates

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Operation Traveller Vote and Local Elections Update

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May marked the conclusion of the latest round of our Operation Traveller Vote campaign with the local elections on 7 May. Throughout March, we engaged with community members, candidates and local stakeholders to encourage political participation and ensure that Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller voices were heard throughout the election period.

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As part of the campaign, we hosted a series of hustings events which created opportunities for community members to engage directly with elected representatives and prospective candidates on the issues affecting our communities. 

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We would like to thank everyone who registered to vote, attended 

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events and took part in the democratic process.

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The local election results reflected a significant shift in the political landscape. Both the Conservative and Labour parties experienced losses across several areas, while Reform UK and the Green Party made substantial gains. Reform gained massively where the conservatives lost many of their councillors. In London, councils including Lewisham and Hackney which are areas where we have ongoing engagement and partnership work, are now under Green Party control.

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These changes may have important implications for local policy priorities, including housing, education, site provision, equality work and community engagement. We will continue to monitor developments and work with local authorities across the country to ensure Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities remain visible within local decision-making.

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The Kings Speech

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The King’s Speech set out the Government’s legislative priorities for the coming parliamentary session, with a strong focus on economic growth, public service reform, infrastructure, policing and housing.

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 While there was no direct reference to Romani (Gypsy), Roma or Irish Traveller communities, several of the proposed measures may have a significant impact on our communities in practice.

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Housing and Planning

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The Government announced further planning and infrastructure reforms aimed at increasing housebuilding and accelerating development projects. For our communities, this raises important questions around authorised site provision, the protection of stopping places and whether local authorities will be held accountable for meeting Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs. 

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At the same time, concerns remain around the continued criminalisation of nomadic lifestyles and the disproportionate impact of enforcement powers on Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller people. 

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Policing and Criminal Justice

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The speech also included commitments to strengthen policing powers and tackle anti-social behaviour. Given longstanding concerns regarding racial profiling and over-policing of our communities, these developments will require close scrutiny. 

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The Traveller Movement remains committed to advocating for fair treatment, accountability and culturally competent approaches within the criminal justice system. 

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Education and SEND Reform

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The Government also outlined plans for education reform, including changes to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) system.

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This is particularly important given the persistent inequalities experienced by Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller children and young people, who continue to face some of the highest exclusion rates and poorest educational outcomes in the country.

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We will continue pushing for reforms that recognise the specific barriers our communities face, including discrimination, mobility, digital exclusion and lack of culturally appropriate support.

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